Washing-machine.



F. B. BECKWITH.

wASHmG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. Il. |9I8. 1,298,645. Patented Apr. 1,1919.

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F. B. BECKWITH.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. n. |918.

1,298,645. Patented Apr. 1,1919

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WASHING MACHINE.

-APPLlcATloN FILED Nov. l1. |918.

1,298,645'. Patnted Apr. 1,1919.

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`Application filed November 11, 1918. Serial No. 262,066.

new and useful Improvements in Washing- Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in washing machines, and hasfor one of its objects to provide a machine having parts so arrangedthat the vertical shaft and its dolly may have its requiredreciprocatory rotation with greater facility than,l ordinary. Anotherobject is to provide 'convenient means for a movement o f the machinefromy one part of a room to another, whether the tub is filled or empty.Other objects relate to simplicity in construction so that the parts maybe economically constructed and will be durable. The invention includesan axle provided with wheels arranged below the tub, vadapted to rotateduring operation, as balance-wheels, or may be used-V as a truck uponwhich the entire weight of the tub and contents may be supported, 'bothof these features being found to be of great advantage. i

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention presents a novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as described hereinand claimed, and as illustrated in the drawings, it being understoodthat size, form, proportion and minor details may be changed withoutdeparting from the invention, the scope of the invention beingdetermined by the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is .a view in longitudinal section of a washingmachine embodying my invention, one of the guides for a segmental armbeing also in section. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the machine. Fig. 3 is aside view showing the machine disposed in an inclined position andsupported, in part, upon wheels. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail showingthe alining gear-wheel splined on the vertical shaft. Fig. 5 is a rearside view i of the machine. Fig. 6 shows one of the aXle-bearin armsemployed. Fig. 7 is a detail showing a locking means for an axlebearingarm.

Iprovide a tub 8 of any suitable proportion, the conventional legs andlid therefor being indicated, respectively, at 9 and 10. Agitatingdevices are employed conslstlng,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1l, 1919.

in part, of an alining gear-wheel 11 which, as best shown in Fig. 1, hasa downwardly projecting, tubular stem a with a terminal annular flangeb, the aperture c for the wheel 11 and its stem preferably being angularin cross-section for receiving the vertical spindle or dasher-shaft 12,upon the lower` end of the latter being slidably mounted, theconventional, non-rotatable dolly 13, the stem a having bearings in thepair of tubular segments 14 which are disposed between the lower end ofthe wheel ll and the liange b, the segments beingt provided betweentheir ends with flanges l which are ysuitably secured to the lower sideof the lid 10.

The parts thus described are of simple construction and may beconveniently assembled, and if a reciprocatory rotary motion is impartedto the gear wheel 1l, the shaft and dolly will have a correspondingmovement for agitating the contents of the tub, the shaft 12, on accountof its bearings being normally maintained in a vertical position, andbeing adaptedto have slidable movements in said bearings, so that ifdesired by an operator, the dolly may suitably engage the fabrics a: (Fig. 1.), this v being of advantage since the contents of the tub, as-tovolume, may not be uniform at all times.

The wheel 11 is actuated by means of rack-bar 15 movable by thehand-lever 16, the latter having a pivotal connection therewith, asindicated at 17. The hand-lever 16 is mounted pivotally between itsends, as indicated at 18, upon a bracket 19 which is suitably secured totheside of the tub.

Numeral 20 indicates a hanger which is secured to the bottom of the tub.Its lower end has a' wrist-pin e mounted therein to provide bearings fora toothed gear 21, the latter being provided with a pivot-pin 22 uponwhich is mounted an actuating-rod 23, the opposite end of said rodhaving a pivotal connection, as indicated at 24, upon the lower end ofthe lever 16; and as thus described, since the toothed ear 21 will berotated during operation an will perform the functions of a balancewheel, it is a material advantage as an aid in operating the handlever,while effecting reciprocatory rotation of the shaft 10, for agitatingthecontentsof the tub.

mentums required,and therefore a combined vehicle` and impulse-member 25is provided, consisting of a pair of wheels 26 rlgidly mounted on anaxle 27, the latter having a pinion 28 mounted thereon.

N umerals 29 indicate a pair of links havin pivotal mountings 30, forytheir upper en s, preferably, upon the legs 9, each linkl at its innerend being provided with a coly tum, said means also being operativeforlar 3l, and it will ybe understood that vthe pair of collars 31'provide bearings. for the ends of the axle 27. 1

' Any suitable means may be provided for moving the pinion 28 intoengagement with the rotatabletoothed gear 21 so that the wheels 26"m-ayprovide additional momenmay have a swinging movement in one direction'tocause the teeth of the pinion 28 to engage the toothed gear 21,l wherebythe greater degree of momentum will be prothe toothed gear 21 isdisposed inline with vided for actuating the shaft 12.

Numeral 321 indicates a foot-rail which connects the outer ends of thearms 32, and in order that the pinion 28 maybe maintained in engagementwith the toothed gear 21 each arm 32 is provided with anotch 35 forreceivingthe lower end of a pawl-rod .36, said rods 36 being providedwith springs 37 tending to normally press them in a di'- rection of thearms 32, the upper ends of the pawl-rods, as best shown in Figs. 1 and5, being pivotally connected with the handles 38 which are pivotally'mounted at their inner ends as indicated at 39, whereby the rods 36 maybemoved upwardly, against the force of the springs 37, the links 29 andwheels 26 thereupon having\a downwardswing movement by action ofgravity, the arms 32 moving in an arc of a circle, the center of whichis .a pivotal mounting 3() of a link 29. An operator, by a downwardpressure on the foot-rail 34: may cause engagement of the teeth of the`pinion 28 with the toothed gear 21, and the parts mentioned arearranged for convenient operation.

The arms 32 are each'provided with a second notch 40, and theactuating-rod 23, at its outer end is provided with a handle 11, and

- the machlne may bev readily elevated from the floor with its weightsupported `by the wheels, the operator, for this purpose using thehand-lever 16 or handle 4:1 for elevating the rear side of thev tub topermit the wheels stantially a vertical position, the pawls will.

engage in the notches 40, which'operates to maintain the links in fixedrelation with the longitudinal axis of the tub, and the machine may thenbe moved about a room, member 25 operating as a vehicle for thispurpose,c

this feature obviously being a great' advanta e. l

umeral 42 indicates a guide provided for lthe top of the lid which,during fope'ration,

maintains the rack-bar inengagement with f the gear wheel 1l. Therack-bar, therefore,

may be swung to the position shown vin Fig. l I 3, 1f desired, whenusing the lever 16 or hanl dle 41 for moving the machine; and for actu'-ating the `shaft 12, the rack-bar may be swung forwardly to bedisposedas shown in l Fi 2. l

`hen' only a limited degree of momentum is required for actuation of theshaft 12, the pawls may be disengaged from the notches and the wheelsand legs 9 will rest upon the loor, and since the pinion. 28 will bedisengaged from thetoothed gear 21, the'latter, during operation, willrotate as a balance wheel. a V

By referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the longitudinal axis of thetub, and therefore in line with the center of gravity,

which is obviously an advantage, also that vided .with a segmental arm,an axle havlng bearings in the pair of links and yhavingwheels rigidlymounted thereon, a pinion rigidly mounted on the axle, a foot-rail con'necting the segmental arms and movable' for moving'the inion of saidaxle into engage-- ment with t e toothed gear, an actuatingrod connectedwith the toothed gear, a handlever pivotally mounted between" its endsand connected with tlfe rack-bar and actuating-rod, and` being movablefor causing coincident actuation ofthe wheels of Said axle and the gearwheel of the' dasher-shaft.

2. In combination with a tub having its bottom provided with a han erand having leg-supports, apertured brac ets on the legsupports, adasher-shaft provided with a gear-wheel and disposed in line with theaxis of the tub, a raek-baradapted to engage the gear-wheel, a Itoothedgear having bearings in the hanger, an actuating-rod pivotally connected with the toothed gear, a pair into engagement wit vmovementsfor causing of pivotally mounted links below the tub each having asegmental arm engaging in an apertured bracket, an axle having bearingsin the pair of links and having wheels non-revolubly mounted thereon, apinion mounted non-revolubly on the axle, said links being adapted tohave a swinging movement for movin the pinion of the axle the 4toothedgear, a hand-lever connected with the rack-bar and actuating-rod andadapted to have swinging coincident actuation of the wheels of sai axleand the gear- Wheel of said dasher-shaft.

3. In devices for the purpose described, a tub having leg-supports andprovided with agitating devices including a dasher-shaft having agear-Wheel -and including a rackbar engaging the gear-wheel, a toothedgear in bearings below the tub, a pair of pivotally mounted links belowthe tub, an axle having bearings in the links and having wheels rigidlymounted thereon, a pinion rigidly mounted on the axle, said links beingmovable for moving the pinion of the axle into engagement with thetoothed gear,

' means to maintain the pinion of the axle in engagement with saidtoothed gear, an actuating-rod connected with the toothed gear, andmovable means connected with the rackbar and actuating-rod for causingactuation of the wheels of the axle and said gearwheel. y 4. Incombination with a wash tub having supporting-members and provided withagitating devices including a vertical shaft provided with a gear wheel,a rack-bar engaging the gear-wheel, apertured brackets on saidsupporting-members, a toothed gear havin journaled bearings below andsupporte by the tub, an actuating-rod connected with the toothed gear',a pair of links each having a pivotal mounting for its upper end uponsaid supporting-members and provided with a curved arm having alongitudinal part disposed equi-distant from said pivotal mounting andengagin in an apertured bracket, an axle journale in and near the innerends of said links and having wheels non-revolubly mounted thereon, apinion mounted non-revolubly on the axle, said links being movable in acircles arc for disposing the pinion of the axle in engagement with saidtoothed gear, a pawl-rod for engaging the curved arm of a link formaintaining said pinion in engagement with said toothed gear, andmovable means for causing simultaneous actuation of the rack-bar andsaid actuating-rotiSV In combination ith a washing inachine consistingof a tub Provided with legs and agitating devices and having a rocklevermovable for actuating said agitating devices, a toothed gear below thetub revoluble by the rock-lever, a pair of links below the tub, an axlejournaled in the links and provided with wheels, a pinion on the axle,

said links being adapted to have swinging movements in one direction todispose the Wheels below the plane of the legs, and adapted to haveswinging movements in an opposite direction to cause engagement 'of thepinion of said axle wlth the toothed gear.

In testimony whereof, I have aixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

FRANKLIN B. BECKWITH. Witnesses:

R. F.- PATTERSON,

ANNE C. HAssLER.

